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Section 32 Buyout Pensions

What is a Section 32 Buyout pension?

Pensions jargon can be confusing, especially if you’re trying to get to grips with all the different types of pension plan.

Here, we explain what a Section 32 Buy Out pension is, and why if you have one it’s worth reviewing it.

Section 32 Buyout pensions explained

Section 32 Buyout pensions were used by both employers and workers to transfer pension benefits built up in a company pension scheme to an individual pension policy.

These plans would be used if, for example, an employee left their job, or if the company pension scheme was winding up. If you contracted out of the State Earnings Related Pension (SERPs) in the late 1980s or early 90s, your National Insurance Contributions would have been paid into a Section 32 Buy Out pension instead.

Section 32 Buyout plans were originally introduced in the 1980s and were largely replaced by personal pensions towards the end of that decade, although some people continue to hold them.

Why check your Section 32 Buyout pension?

It’s important to regularly check all your pensions – not just Section 32 Buy Out pensions – to make sure they still match your attitude to risk, and that the fund or funds your pension savings are invested in are performing as you’d expected. It’s also vital to check how much you’re paying in charges, as these will eat into your investment returns.

If you’re not sure how to go about this, seek professional financial advice. We can look to see whether we can improve your pensions on your behalf, and help you decide whether you might be better off transferring to a new plan, or consolidating your pensions, or if you should stay put.

For example, sometimes Section 32 Buyout plans come with valuable guarantees, which means switching to a different plan wouldn’t make sense. For example, people who left final salary pensions by transferring to Section 32 pension had to be offered a ‘Guaranteed Minimum Pension’ by the provider they moved too. This guarantee means their pension income must be no lower than a set amount no matter how the pension fund performs.

Also, some policies entitle you to take more than 25% of your pension as tax-free cash at retirement, and this benefit can be lost on transfer.

If you’ve got a Section 32 Buyout pension and want to know more about it, feel free to contact us. We’ll only advise you to take action if it’s in your best interest.

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Capital at risk. This website does not constitute personal advice. If you are in doubt as to the suitability of an investment please contact one of our advisers. Prevailing tax rates and reliefs are dependent on your individual circumstances and are subject to change.